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Hacksaw’s Thursday Podcast-1pm
NFL PREVIEW
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“YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL?”

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Here comes the NFL season, and there are great opening games this weekend.
Here comes the much anticipated seasons for the Chargers.
Here are the storylines to watch in the “Fight for LA”

CHARGERS:

Jim Harbaugh-Justin Herbert…That should be quite a combo.  Harbaugh has won everywhere in his career…as a QB and a coach.  His resume is spectacular.  His impact on Herbert should be profound.

The Bolts have 23-new players on this roster, and are excellent in two areas.  3-first round picks in the offensive line.  A 7-man linebacker crew that could be the best rush package in the league.

But there are so many question marks other places.  Can WR-Josh Palmer stay healthy?  Is this a different year for last year’s first round pick, the struggling Quentin Johnston?  Is there depth in the wide out group led by rookie Ladd McConkey?

Yes heavy duty RB-Gus Edwards has a history, but he also gets hurt. Who knows what JK Dobbins can do, considering the two major injuries he had in Baltimore.

The OL is loaded with talent, the latest being RT-Joe Alt.  They can pass protect, but can they run block?

The blitz scheme under Jesse Minter will be fun to watch.  We’re coming to get you, how you going to block all these guys?  From Khalil Mack to Joey Bosa and everyone in between, that 7-man linebacking unit will be special.

But after getting rid of 3-defensive tackles, do they have the right help to play alongside Morgan Fox?

The secondary needs Derwin James to make plays, and not play all over.  He was lost in coverage at times last year.  His running mate Alois Gilman played well, and for the most part so did Asante Samuel on the corner.

Does Kristan Fuller make a big difference?  Does the late summer deal for Elijah Molden give the Chargers good veteran backup coverage.?  Which of the young athletes, and they can all run, steps up and learns to play at the next level on Sundays?

The kicking game is superb.  Cameron Dicker has earned his $5M per year extension going (52-for-55) on field goals.  The punter is trustworthy.  And we all await to see the damage that Darious Davis can do returning kicks with the new NFL kickoff rules.

And then there is a rugged schedule.  Home games early with the Raiders-Chiefs.  Road games in Denver, against Bo Nix, and in Cleveland, with its Dog Pound Defense.  Joe Burrows-Bengals and Lamar Jackson-Ravens show up here in mid season.  But there are back to back road games vs Kirk Cousins-Falcons and the trip to Arrowhead to the Chiefs.  Late season, they get Baker Mayfield and the Bucs in LA, and finish up with a road game vs the Raiders, and we do remember the (63-21) beatdown late last fall.

As the longtime Voice of the Chargers, I think they could go (10-7).  But I also know there is an injury factor, relating to Justin Herbert.  And there is always an injury factor that could impact an offensive line, the defensive front, or Joey Bosa’s nagging injury history.  So they could also go (7-10).

Harbaugh will be a fiery leader.  GM Joe Hortiz knows talent, based on his track record with the Baltimore Ravens.  Maybe a year from today, with another draft under his belt, the Bolts might be a true AFC playoff game finalist.

Enjoy the renewal of the rivalry….the ‘Show Me Your Lightning Bolts-vs-The Silver & Bleak’.

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